Glen Olsen

Glen Olsen

May 1, 1939 – April 18, 2021

A loving husband, father and grandpa, Glen Olsen passed away on April 18, 2021. He was born May 1, 1939, in Lovell to Ole and May (Despain) Olsen. He was the youngest of five children, joining brothers and sisters Bob, Adell, Darwin and Wilma.

Glen grew up in Lovell, where he excelled at sports and school. As a Boy Scout, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and fondly recalled attending the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Irvine, California, in 1953. 

Glen joined the Navy and had a successful 28-year career in Airborne Electronic Reconnaissance and Surveillance. While stationed at the U.S. Naval Station in Rota, Spain, Glen met and married his wife, Margot, in 1968. Their son, Dan, was born in 1970. With the Navy, the family moved to Guam and then were fortunate to return to Rota, Spain. Glen retired from the Navy there in 1987 as a chief warrant officer four (CWO-4). He and Margot moved to northern Virginia, where he worked as a defense contractor for Naval Air Systems Command.

Glen was always proud of his hometown, and despite living abroad, he stayed up to date on local news by reading the Lovell Chronicle. In 1998, Glen retired, moved back to Lovell and built a new house on the family’s plot. He and Margot could usually be found gardening in their yard or enjoying nature nearby. Glen was a consummate bird watcher.

Glen served as mayor of Lovell from 2001 to 2004. One of his proudest achievements as mayor was the creation of the Veterans Memorial Park, which was dedicated by Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell. Glen had a lifelong passion for astronomy and science in general. When Halley’s comet visited in 1986, he organized a viewing event with his telescope for his community. 

Glen’s first grandchild, Sofia, was born in 2010, and in 2011 Glen and Margot moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to be closer to Dan and his family. Margot sadly passed away in 2015. Glen enjoyed living in the SF Bay Area. He loved to go on long bike rides along the bay. He liked to root for the SF Giants, 49ers and Golden State Warriors, usually while watching them on TV, but also in-person at several games with his family. Glen also loved classical music and enjoyed going to the SF Symphony with his family.

In addition to his son, Dan, Glen is survived by his daughter-in-law, Vanessa, and his grandchildren, Sofia and Xavier. Glen loved spending time with Sofia and Xavier during birthdays, visits and holidays. Sofia would often play piano for Glen, which would always put a big smile on his face.

On May 15, a memorial service was held for Glen, and his ashes were spread in the San Francisco Bay, where Margot’s ashes had also been spread.